Who will succeed Chelsea, winner of the previous edition? The Champions League final opposes Liverpool and Real Madrid on Saturday May 28 (9 p.m.), at the Stade de France, for a clash between two of the most prominent teams of the season. On the one hand, the people of Madrid know the recipe and covet a 14th trophy in C1. On the other, the Reds would like their resplendent 2022 to be rewarded.
Real Madrid in quiet force mode?
Before the start of this European campaign, few had made Real Madrid a favorite for the final victory. But the Merengues are still there, in the final for the 17th time, and have not stolen their place. Carlo Ancelotti’s players left their mark on this 2021-2022 edition, systematically pulling themselves out of the most desperate situations.
They overthrew PSG in the round of 16, when they were trailing by two goals 30 minutes from the end of the double confrontation (0-1, 3-1). Against Chelsea, they managed to bounce back in the second leg as they lost ground, validating their ticket to extra time after being down 3-0 (3-1, 2-3). We thought we had seen it all, but Real pushed even further in the improbable semi-finals, snatching another extra time against Manchester City after coming up two goals after the 90th minute (3-4, 3-1).
Nothing seems to be able to overcome this team, which nevertheless remained on a white season, its first without the slightest trophy since 2009-2010. Without even looking at the forces present, the Merengues have the psychological ascendancy before this final. They only need half a chance to score (they have scored five goals more than their Expected Goals in C1 this season). It remains to be seen whether they will agree to leave control of the match to Liverpool.
Liverpool will have to show their best face
Nothing could be more normal than finding the best team in Europe in 2022 in the Champions League final. Holder of the greatest number of victories (26) and the lowest total of defeats (1) since the start of the year, Liverpool has arguments to make on the eve of its 10th C1 final.
The recipe, which had already guided the Reds to the coronation in 2019, continues to work. Sadio Mané, Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino are still there, although the influence of the third has waned. Jürgen Klopp is still unanimous on the bench. It must be said that the German coach has just offered a third C1 final to Liverpool in the last five editions.
But this season risks leaving the Reds with a taste of unfinished business if the Cup with the big ears slips through their fingers. Having come very close to the Premier League title last weekend, just behind Manchester City, they also have revenge to take on the final lost to the same Real Madrid in 2018 (1-3).
To do this, it will be necessary to find the right balance, which allows both to exploit the attacking potential of this team, and to avoid conceding as many goals as in the two previous rounds (six out of the last four games) . The dazzling comeback in the league and the frequent recourse to squad reshuffles have somewhat obscured the fact that Liverpool have shown shortcomings on the European scene. Whether against Inter Milan (defeat in the eighth return), or against the modest Benfica (draw 3-3 in the return quarter) and Villarreal (0-2 at the break of the semi-final return), there has always had at least one false note.
The race for the Ballon d’Or in the background
Karim Benzema, Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mané… Three of the favorites for the most coveted individual award in world football have a lot to gain, and lose, in this final.
For the Frenchman, all that is missing is the last brick. Author of 16 goals in the Champions League, with a hat-trick against PSG and another against Chelsea in passing, he built a concrete argument to finally win his first Ballon d’Or (a year after his fourth place). He was the face and the guide of this unsinkable Real, already crowned in the league (27 goals in La Liga).
So far, it seems to be a step ahead of the competition. According to a poll on our Twitter account, you are moreover 48% to think that only the fall of an asteroid would prevent him from winning the trophy at the end of the season. But, a victory for Liverpool in C1 could change the situation, because Sadio Mané already has an African Cup of Nations in his pocket. A capital performance from Mohamed Salah also risks tipping the scales in his favor, as he was the strongman of the best team of 2022.